Gas-vent valve for oil-pumping equipment



Dec. 17, 1929. c. w. REESE VALVE FOR OIL PUMPING EQUIPMENT GAS VENT Original Filed May 1924 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES CHARLES w. REESE; or PETROLEUM, WEST VIRGINIA GAS-VENT VALVE IliOR OIL-PUMPING EQUIPMENT Application filed May 5, 1924, Serial ,No. 711,205. Renewed March 9,1929. 7

This invention relates to improvements in means to prevent the ineflective operation of the pumping equipment of oil wells, by properly controlling gas pressure within the well,

so that a maximum flow of petroleum may be obtained incident to a pumping operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a gas vent valve adapted to be supported below the conventional traveling valve of pumping equipment for the purpose of venting gas from a body of liquid petroleum, in order that the liquid petroleum may be properly pumped in a maximum flow without interference from gas pressure,

It is well known that in pumping oil from wells, especially wells with rock and tubing that have more or less gas in them, there is a great deal of trouble experienced incident to gas pressure existing adjacent the top portion of the gas anchor pipe. In such event when the traveling valve of the pumping apparatus starts on a downward stroke, the standing valve is closed and there is no opening for the gas to vent out of the top of the gas anchor pipe, sothat in the ordinary case when the traveling valve takes the upstroke, the stroke is partially or entirely ineffective in pumping the oil or petroleum into the Work barrel, incident to the gas pressure which has prevented the petroleum from flowing to the point where the reciprocatory pumping equipment may act most effectively thereon. To obviate this I have provided a novel valve, which I prefer to term a gas vent valve, which will allow the gas to vent or pass out of the top of the gas anchor pipe and to the space between the workingbarrel and casing, so that'the oil or petroleum fluid may rise to a point immediately adjacent the standing valve, so that the traveling valve on its upstroke may obtaina maximum flow of petroleum past the-standing valve.

Other objects and advantages ofthis invention will be apparent during the course of th 15 following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several'views, 58 Figure 1 isa cross sectional view taken through certain well pumping equipment,

showing conventional well structure adjacent the lower end ofthe well pumping equipment, and more particularly showing my improved and novelgas vent valve; 7 Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing more particularly details of the improved gas vent valve.

Figures 3 and 4t are cross sectional views onareduced scale, taken substantially on the.

"1ines'3.3 and 44: of Figure 2.

In-the'drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is'shown only the preferred may generally designate the oil well casing, within which the. working barrel B is supported in the conventional spaced relation therewith to provide the space 15 which may exist between the casing and the barrel B. Reciprocatory pumpingequipment C may be provided in the working barrel B, of a conventional nature, and at the lower end of the working barrel B a standing'valve D may be supported as by means F. 'The improved gas vent valve structure G is supported below the standing valve, andin turn supports a conventional type of gas anchor pipe H, as will be sub sequently described.

Referring to thepart O of the pumping equipment, the same may include the conventional traveling valve 20, supported at the lower end of the valve stem 21, and also includes the conventional cups 22 which are slidable therewith in engagement within the working barrel B. a i i The standing valve D may be of the conventional construction, and includes a seat portion 24, which may be supported within an aperture 25 formed in the coupling F and upon which seat 24 a-valve cage 26 is supported, to limit the-amplitude of movement ofthe ballvalve 27 ,as it operates upon the seat 24 for closing or opening the passageway which extends through said standing valve.

It is of course understood-by those skilled in the art to which this invention relates that the oil or petroleum is adapted to pass through the passageway 30 from the well therebelow to the area within theworking barrel B, 2 Upon upstroke of the traveling embodiment of this invention the letter A valve and its connected structure the ball valve 27 is opened to permit petroleum to flow into the working barrel B above the standing valve D, and upon the downstroke the pressure within the working barrel B below the sliding pump structure C will seat the ball 27. In conventional pumping equipment when the standing valve is thus close upon the down stroke of the traveling valve, the gas pressure which-exists the well-below the standing valve prevents the petroleum or oil from freely flowing up into the gas'anchor pipe.

To prevent the detrimental effect ordinarily encountered, as above described, the improved gas-vent structure G has been provided which consists of a substantially hollow cylindrical shaped casing internally screw threaded, at 36 inwardly from the up per thereof, adapted to receive a coupling sleeve 37 by means of which the casing portion may be coupled to the lower end of the standing valve coupling F. A relatively large passageway 40 is provided through the v casing 35, and adjacent the lower end of the casing 35, aweb l t'is provided having an internally screw threaded opening therein adapted to receive the upper screw threaded end of the gas anchor pipe. The casing 35 below the web a l is interiorly screw threaded, asat 48, adapted to receive a suitable tube d9, which for convenient purposes may be considerod an extension of the working barrel. In the space or passageway 40 between the web and standing valve, plenty of stock is provided, and in which the vent valve details of the improved gas vent valve structure are provided.

In this stock portion 50 a reduced passageway is provided, extending upwardly from the lower surface 56 thereof; it being a feature of the invention that the l wer surface is spaced above the web 44 so that/the reduced passageway 55 opens at the lower end thereof just above the web portion -14. The

reduced passageway 55 extends upwardly through the stock portion 50, and at its upper end outlets into an enlarged'passageway 57 in axial alignment with the passageway portion 55, the passageway 57 at its upper end opening at the top surface 58 of the stock portion 50; said top surface 58, of course, being, disposedin spaced relation below the lower edge 59' of'the' coupling sleeve 37. At thejuncture of the passageway, portions 55 and 579m annular shoulder 60 is provided, which is adapted toreceiv'e'an' annularseat 61 therein; said seat being of such nature that it maybe inserted from the-upper end of the passageway portion 57' into the location described. A ball valve 65 is adapted to play upon theseat'fil, and-the upper end ofthe passageway- 57 is interiorly screw threaded 'adaptecl toreceive a screw-plug 68 therein so 'thatthe ball valve 65' may-rciproca-tein the passageway 57 between its seat 61 and the plug 68. A port orvent duct 70 is provided transversely through the casing portion 35 of the gas vent valve structure G; this port 7 0 being arranged at right angles to the passageway 57 and at one end communicating with said. passageway 57 and atits outer end outletti'ng into the space between the casing 35 and casing A. .It is preferred that a small passageway-7 5 be; provided in the web portion 44, immediately below and in alignment with the passageway"5-5.,'- and through which a suitable tool may be inserted for the purpose of forcing the valve seatbl oifof the shoulder 60 if it should be desired to displace the same from the gas vent valve structure for replacing or for other purposes. A screw plug 76 normally seats in this passageway to seal the same.

Referring to the operation ofthis invention upon the upstroke of 'thesliding pumping equipment G the standing-valve D will open, as can readily be understood, and which will create a suction within the passageway 40 of the gas vent valve structure and which suction will be transmitted to the passageway 55 and act upon'the valve 65 to seat the same, and which will close communication of the port 70 with the passageway or compartment 40 in the casing 35, so that the suction is transmitted through the passageway 80 of the gas anchor pipe H for the purpose of drawing any oil or petroleum which may be in the casing 35 and in the gas anchor pipe H up past the standing valve into the working barrel.

Upon the downstroke of the traveling struct-ure the standing valve member 27 will be seated. This will permit the gas-in the well to build UPPIGSSUIG below the standing valve,

and in such event the gas pressure will unseat the gas vent valve member 65 and force the same upwardly so that the'gas pressure will be vented through the portTO intothe space between the working barrel and the casing A, and the gas pressure then being reducedthe liquid oil or petroleum is permitted to flew up through the gas anchor pipe H into the gas vent valve casing 35. Should any of the petroleum pass through the port 70 it will immediately return by gravity to the bottom of the well. 7

From the foregoing description "of this invention it is apparent that a novel process and apparatusforthepuniping of oil from oil wells has been "providedwhich willov'ercome that inwhic'h many instan'ces isra serious drawback to pumping operations;- Not only will it operateto permit effective pumping, and a'greater flow of petrol'eum fiuid, but incident to theproper venting ofthegas through the space between the'working' barrel and the casing, the gas is effectively segregated from the body of liquidpet'roleum and the polish rods do'not'become heated so quickly as "has heretofore been Y the case,

thus preventing frequent shut downs due to burning out of stufling boxes and the like.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described,

without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas anchor valve of the class de scribed a casing having a main passageway therethrough and providing a portion of material extending into said main passageway, said portion of material having a reduced passageway portion therethrough opening at one end of the material and an enlarged passageway portion in alignment and in communication with the reduced passageway portion opening at the oppositeend'of said material into said main passageway, a seat sup ported at the unction of the passageway portions through said stock material, a duct eX- tending through the casing from the outside into the larger passageway in said material, a valve operating in the larger passageway portion of said material, and a plug normally limiting the amplitude of movement of said valve member in the enlarged passageway portion of the material.

2. In a gas anchor valve of the class described a tubular casing having a compartment therein with an upper screw threaded attachin end, the compartment at the top thereof being open, an annular web in the bottom of the tubular casing, an anchor tube detachably supported by said web and having a passageway therethrough directly communicating into the compartment of the tubular casing, said tubular casing having a stock portion integral therewith projecting into the compartment part way, said stock portion having a vertical passageway open at the bottom thereof above the said web and providing a seat therein, a valve on said seat, said tubular casing having a transverse port to the vertical passageway of the stock portion above said valve seat, said web having a transverse port therethrough in alignment with the vertical passageway of the stock portion of the tubular casing, a plug detachably seated in said port of the web for closing the same, said compartment of the tubular casing being open straightway therethrough from the anchor tube passageway to the top opening of the tubular casing.

CHARLES W. REESE. 

